Mariel Padilla and Robin Padilla | Image: Facebook/Mariel Rodriguez Padilla
Trigger warning: mentions of marital or spousal rape
Actress-host Mariel Padilla and her husband, Sen. Robin Padilla, came under fire following their remarks on the viral Senate discussion on spousal rape, which were deemed insensitive.
Mariel took to Facebook to share a photo of her and her husband sharing a kiss, with the caption, “Oh may consent ‘yan ah [kiss emojis].”
In the comments section, the pair exchanged remarks about being “in heat,” a term usually used for animals experiencing sexual urges.
“Hello babe. I’m in heat [fire emojis],” commented the senator. “It’s a tie. I’m feeling hot hot hot [dancing girl emojis],” responded Mariel.
Image: Facebook/Mariel Rodriguez Padilla
The couple’s comments, including Robin’s remarks at the hearing, sparked online outrage, considering that there are women who fall victim to marital rape and as netizens stressed the importance of consent among partners.
“Making fun and joking about sexual consent is so distasteful. Just, no,” stressed one netizen.
Image: Facebook/Mariel Rodriguez Padilla
“Very disrespectful to all the victims of marital rape and sexual abuse within the confinement of one’s home. Disgusting. Well, what do we expect from these moronic enablers? Kawawang Pilipinas (Poor Philippines),” weighed in another netizen.
Image: Facebook/Mariel Rodriguez Padilla
“Husbands do not have ‘sexual rights’ over their wives. Women have equal rights and free will. No means no. It’s all about respect,” said prominent human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno in a post on X.
Women’s group Gabriela also condemned the remarks of the senator, saying they “perpetuate machismo” and “blatantly disregard women’s autonomy and rights.”
On Thursday, consensual sex between married partners was at the center of the Senate hearing, with Robin remarking, “What if the husband is ‘in the mood’ for sex, but the wife refuses, what would happen? There should be a legal way to handle such matters.”
“Meron kang sexual rights sa asawa mo eh. So halimbawa, hindi mo naman pinipili eh kung kailan ka in heat. So paano ‘yun kapag ayaw ng asawa mo? Wala pong ibang paraan talaga para maano ‘yung lalaki? So paano yun? Mambababae ka na lang ba? Eh di kasong kaso na naman ‘yun,” continued the politician.
(You have sexual rights over your partner. So, for example, you don’t get to choose when you have urges. But what if your partner refuses? Is there really no other way for the man to fulfill his urge? Are you just going to be a womanizer? But that’s another legal case.)
Atty. Lorna Kapunan of Kapunan & Castillo Offices stressed that “it’s no longer a legal but more of a psychosocial issue,” as wives don’t have an obligation to comply with their husbands’ demands, given that mutual respect is required in the relationship, especially in discussions of sex.